Cityhood for East L.A.

This is the second installment of "Spotlight on Supporters," a series showcasing the talented and dedicated Cityhood supporters who make up East LA.

Adalid Sanchez was born and raised in East Los Angeles. He attended Fourth Street Elementary, Griffith Middle School and Garfield High School (Class of 2003). While attending UCLA, he worked at Fourth Street Elementary through AmeriCorps, before returning back home to upon graduation. Check out below how and why Adalid is involved.

Q. How did you hear about Cityhood and what attracted you to it?

A. I learned about the cityhood movement through friends though I'd been involved with preliminary rumblings since being in Mr. Alberto Palacios' government class as a high school senior when I designed a crude logo and website. My initial attraction was very simply the idea of calling East L.A. a city. I mainly support cityhood as a means to establish a local government by which city codes could be born locally and implemented with residents' close input.

Q. Why do you support Cityhood and have chosen to volunteer for the effort?

A. I wanted to volunteer because one gets few chances to be involved with the East L.A. community at large and to see if the campaign had legs at the beginning.

Q. What were some of your inspirations for the Cityhood logo that you created?

A. The logo needed to be simple and convey a very blunt message. Since there is a misunderstanding as to what bounds East L.A. geographically I figured choosing the Whittier Boulevard sign would place folks and more importantly it is an identifiable, historic symbol of East L.A. Growing up, seeing Whittier Blvd. sign meant I was home and it still does.

Q. What would you tell somebody who is on the fence or disagrees with the idea of Cityhood?

A. For those skeptical about supporting cityhood, I do relate. I still have my healthy doubts because the end result 20 years down the line is unpredictable. However, as residents of unincorporated East L.A. it's time we have a say in our legislative process. It may incite civic engagement if city council meetings are held in our neighborhood and its members are local residents, rather than with the gargantuan Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. I will support because I want future generations to feel like they can raise a family in East L.A. Please question the movement but understand that while the current system works it largely does so with limited input from the community.